Elmina

  4.4 – 273 reviews   • African restaurant

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✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in Elmina 20009

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Order and Reservations

Reservations: opentable.com

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Reviews

Candice Davis
I had the pleasure of visiting Elmina with a group of friends as part of a dinner club and it was a fantastic experience. The aesthetic of the space is beautiful and thoughtfully designed, creating a warm and elevated atmosphere for a night out.

The food was delicious and full of flavor, and the ambience made the entire evening feel special. One of the highlights was the chef coming out to check in with our table, which added a really personal touch to the experience. Overall, it was a wonderful place to gather with friends and enjoy a memorable meal together. I’d definitely return. ✨
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Sun Lee
Truly phenomenal. Okra, avocado+plantain, jollof rice, mushroom skewer, and cake with apricots were absolute standouts. Skip the passionfruit ceviche nonsense wish all restaurants wouldn’t stop this foolish trend.

Chef Eric from Top Chef was making the rounds to make sure folks were happy- such a vibe. Can’t wait to go back.
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Jason A. Simon
From the moment you open the menu, you can tell this place understands the diaspora. Every dish sparks curiosity familiar flavors reimagined with confidence and creativity. It’s African fusion done thoughtfully, where tradition isn’t diluted, it’s elevated.

Each plate felt like a conversation between cultures: bold spices, unexpected pairings, and modern techniques that still honor the roots. The twists on classic dishes were intentional and exciting, never gimmicky. You taste history, travel, and innovation all at once.

If you’re looking for a dining experience that brings the richness of African flavors to the table with a fresh perspective, this spot delivers beautifully.
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mika cribbs
What an experience! Such a unique menu from anywhere I’ve been. I really enjoyed the zaalouk dip with roti. Can absolutely eat three of those in one sitting. The chofi and fante fante fish were two dishes I know I can’t find anywhere. Their green shito sauce is refreshing to cut the fried turkey tails and fish. The prices are on the more expensive end, however there is clearly a lot of thought put into the menu and each dish. For four of us — sharing 3 appetizers and an entree was enough to fill us up. Service was great with great recs from our server and great details of what each dish was beforehand. This is a great date spot, well lit with several different seating options for whatever occasion!
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Elana G
I’m gonna give them the benefit of the doubt and give them four stars. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was nice. The wait staff were on top of everything and very knowledgeable about the menu. They accommodated my dining partner’s aversion to spicy food.

On the other hand, the dishes were hit and miss. The beef “kabobs” were the size of sticks of satay (very small) and the meat was overcooked. $25 for poorly cooked tiny pieces of beef was a disappointment. The hamachi collar was my favorite dish of the evening. The bone marrow with crispy goat was good but the bone marrow was better than the goat on top. Maybe it’s because they left the sauce on the side to accommodate my dining partner, but the goat didn’t have as much flavor as I was expecting. We got a side of plain jolloff rice and I thought it was excellent. The wait staff warned us it might be too spicy for my dining partner, and they were right, but the flavor was really nice. The corn pudding dessert was unique and delicious, but I expected something different. While the plating and presentation was nice, and perfect for two people sharing, for $18 I expected the portion of the corn to be larger. The dish was small and corn is a cheap ingredient. I would expect this size of a dessert as part of a tasting menu, but we did a la carte, and a la carte should be larger.

I’m glad I got to try Elmina but the price point is too high for me to go back again due to some of the dishes not meeting expectations.
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Barry Downs (FABS)
Excellent addition to 14th street food corridor. The fried crab rice and fried fish were excellent. Service was very good. Enjoyed the atmosphere..if you want to try some delicious Ghanaian dishes this for sure should be on your list. $$$$ price point but worth it.
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Sami
We visited Elmina for dinner with reservations for two. Even with a reservation, we ended up waiting a bit for our table, which was not ideal. However once seated, the space itself definitely impressed us. The restaurant is huge, spanning three floors, and the atmosphere is beautiful, lively, and full of energy.

Our server was great. He was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and happy to share his personal favorites. However, our food took around 30 minutes to arrive, which was disappointing. It was especially noticeable because the table next to us was seated after us and received all of their dishes before we got even one.

Overall the food was good. The plantains were perfectly cooked and delicious, and the pork belly was grilled well with a great sauce. Our favorites were definitely the crab fried rice and the grilled chicken, both incredibly flavorful. My cocktail was also fantastic.

Overall, Elmina has a stunning space, great vibes, and good food, but the pacing and wait times could use improvement. We’d return, but hope for a smoother dining experience next time.
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Ian Campbell
A mix of great and meh. The smoked plantains were fantastic and the okra fries were delicious as well. The other food we ordered such as the Tina tartare & Crab Fried Rice were well prepared but we didn’t feel like it warranted the price point. Service was exceptional but I ultimately would choose to go somewhere else for a full dinner. I think Elmina would be a great date spot or place to stop with 1-2 friends for appetizers.

I ordered one cocktail which was fine, but again I don’t think it was worth the price. It was Old Fashioned adjacent and came with tiny ice cubes which melted quickly. I may be a large clear ice cube snob, but still…
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Evan Cunningham
Absolutely blew expectations out of the water
Ordered: Tasting menu + pairing ($185)
Please please get the fufu!
Branzino filet was the best I have had in ages
We got 2 mains as a party of 3, when normally it’s 1 main per 2 guests, which was a wonderful surprise and so appreciated, we ate it to the last grain of rice!
Our server was knowledgeable, warm and welcoming
Can see this place having a star by the end of the year!
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KK
Black owned business
Black History Month support-join me!

Elmina is a beautiful representation of Ghanaian culture. Owned by THE Chef Eric Adjepong, this restaurant creates food which fosters good conversation.

Service was amazing! Great staff!

Top favorites:
Drink: Benjamin’s G&T- a twist on the classic gin and tonic. Very refreshing and lite

Snacks: Kelewele-not your traditional fried plantain. It’s crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside. DELICIOUS!

Appetizer: Zaalouk Dip! This is a winner baby! You can taste the charred eggplant and bold flavors in each bite. The roti is perfectly prepared and adds additional flavor as you break off pieces to scoop up the dip. FANTASTIC!

Mains: Fante Fante Fish and Bambara Bean Coconut Curry. Both dishes paid an homage to West African culture and it’s everything that you want in a meal. Spices and herbs were on full display. STELLAR!

Dessert: Malva pudding cake. You’ll want to push through the fullness to indulge in this warm delight. Perfect mixes of flavors-DECEDENT!

Great place for date night, family (adults), friends, and coworkers. Go opened minded to exploring cultural cuisines and enjoy!
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